How do I smooth out violins?

Maybe I am showing my age. But, that the idea that massed strings are problematic on many digital recording/playback (I agree with Jmcgrogan) should come as a surprise at all is, to me, the biggest surprise of all. This has been the subject of discussion for as long as digital has been around. Clearly, there are many fine digital recordings, and in some ways analog has as many problems (if of a different kind). But, the OP seems to be familiar with the sound of live strings and is looking for such. Given how common the problem is, it seems to me that the source is a great place to start. I really don't mean to turn this into a digital vs analog issue, but I have heard VERY few digital playback systems playing back mased strings, that allow me to forget that it's digital that I am listening to. Then again, I have heard just as few turntables that let me forget that am listening to a turntable. Is that pc (I don't mean power cord) enough?

Gear has a long way to go still; if the sound of live is the goal. The notion that a $400 CD player is "without fault" seems a little far fetched to me.

IMO

Hi Frogman,
You make a good point,a CD player built to sell for 400.00 retail certainly faces cost restraints.Likely small power supply, wimpy transformer and cheap op-amps and caps needed to meet budget. High quality digital can sound excellent with all types of music.Would it not be in the OP`s best interest to have a reference CD recording(he knows and can trust) to use when auditioning or comparing other players.He can develop a relative hierarchy of of various players sound quality.
Regards,

The problem with a reference recording is it can sound completely different on every system it's played on. Does that make one system bad and another good? I don't think so. Every system I have assembled gets the most from a separate group of recordings. I think it takes many many recordings to analyze a system. It would be nice if we could use one recording, but it's not that simple.

Gentlemen,
The OP says massed violins sound like crap on his system. Asks for suggestions as to how to correct the situation. Now THINK for a monment. How many VARIABLES are we confronted with here?

The CD was badly recorded
the CD was actually a transfer of a 1942 recording
The performance was subpar
It was not a top tier orchestra
he does not know what massed violins sound like
his expectations are too high for recorded music
his speakers are not up to the task

And Lord knows what else

SO, how can anyone ponder the OP's question and come up with BUY THIS, BUY THAT, UPGRADE THAT CHANGE THIS.
would it not make sense to do the easy and simple and the cheapest things FIRST.

The 349 dollar CD player owned by the OP and moi. Please google CD5004 STEREOPHILE. I will assume you gentlemen know how to 'READ' equipment reviews. Trust me, if they had found anything wrong or bad with a 350$ CD player, they would have shouted it to the roof-tops. Because it would support the firt law of high-end 'If it cost more, it's better'. The obligatory last paragraph comparison to the mega buck 'reference' player notwithstanding.

Cheers

"Trust me, if they had found anything wrong or bad with a 350$ CD player, they would have shouted it to the roof-tops."

Unless Marantz advertises in their magazine.